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Lucas Jackson / Reuters, file
Paratroopers from Chosen Company of the 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry rest towards the end of a helicopter assault mission to improve their biological database, near the town of Ahmad Khel in Afghanistan's Paktiya Province on July 16.
KABUL, Afghanistan -- It was once President Barack Obama's "war of necessity." Now, it's America's forgotten war.
The Afghan conflict generates barely a whisper on the U.S. presidential campaign trail. It's not a hot topic at the office water cooler or in the halls of Congress — even though more than 80,000 American troops are still fighting here and dying at a rate of one a day.
Americans show more interest in the economy and taxes than the latest suicide bombings in a different, distant land. They're more tuned in to the political ad war playing out on television than the deadly fight still raging against the Taliban. Earlier this month, protesters at the Iowa State Fair chanted "Stop the war!" They were referring to one purportedly being waged against the middle class.
By the time voters go to the polls Nov. 6 to choose between Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney, the war will be in its 12th year. For most Americans, that's long enough.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
'Bumper sticker deep'
Public opinion remains largely negative toward the war, with 66 percent opposed to it and just 27 percent in favor in a May AP-GfK poll. More recently, a Quinnipiac University poll found that 60 percent of registered voters felt the U.S. should no longer be involved in Afghanistan. Just 31 percent said the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting there now.
Not since the Korean War of the early 1950s — a much shorter but more intense fight — has an armed conflict involving America's sons and daughters captured so little public attention.
"We're bored with it," said Matthew Farwell, who served in the U.S. Army for five years including 16 months in eastern Afghanistan, where he sometimes received letters from grade school students addressed to the brave Marines in Iraq — the wrong war.
Hoshang Hashimi / AP
More than ten years after the beginning of the war, Afghanistan faces external pressure to reform as well as ongoing internal conflicts.
"We all laugh about how no one really cares," he said. "All the 'support the troops' stuff is bumper sticker deep."
Top US general's aircraft hit by rocket-fire in Afghanistan
Farwell, 29, who is now studying at the University of Virginia, said the war is rarely a topic of conversation on campus — and he isn't surprised that it's not discussed much on the campaign trail.
"No one understands how to extricate ourselves from the mess we have made there," he said. "So from a purely political point of view, I wouldn't be talking about it if I were Barack Obama or Mitt Romney either."
Ignoring the Afghan war, though, doesn't make it go away.
According to the defense department's latest tally (updated on August 21, 2012 at 10 a.m. ET), 1,972 Americans have died in Afghanistan since President George W. Bush launched attacks there in October 2001 to rout al-Qaida.
The terrorist group used Afghanistan to train recruits and plot the Sept. 11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 Americans.
If casualties in other countries are included, the number of Americans killed since the start of the war is 2,091.
According to an analysis of U.S. forces killed in the war by The New York Times, three out of four who died were white, nine out of 10 were enlisted service members and the average age of those who died was 26. Half of the deaths were in Afghanistan's Kandahar or Helmand provinces — in the country's Taliban-dominated south, the Times reported.
The war drags on even though al-Qaida has been largely driven out of Afghanistan and its charismatic leader Osama bin Laden is dead — slain in a U.S. raid on his Pakistani hideout last year.
Strangely, Afghanistan never seemed to grab the same degree of public and media attention as the war in Iraq, which Obama opposed as a "war of choice."
Unlike Iraq, victory in Afghanistan seemed to come quickly. Kabul fell within weeks of the U.S. invasion in October 2001. The hardline Taliban regime was toppled with few U.S. casualties.
But the Bush administration's shift toward war with Iraq left the Western powers without enough resources on the ground, so by 2006 the Taliban had regrouped into a serious military threat.
Get an intimate view of the lives of infantry soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division, as they encounter danger and then have down time in Logar Province, Afghanistan.
Candidate Obama promised to refocus America's resources on Afghanistan. But by the time President Obama sent 33,000 more troops to Afghanistan in December 2009 in a policy known as the "surge", years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan had drained Western resources and sapped resolve to build a viable Afghan state.
Army casualties during the surge were heaviest at Fort Campbell in Kentucky (home to the 101st Airborne Division) and Fort Drum in New York (home to the 10th Mountain division), according to the Times' analysis of deaths. Units at both bases were frequently deployed to Afghanistan during the surge, the Times reported.
Panetta intervenes after 10th US service member killed in 2 weeks in Afghanistan
Over time, Obama's administration has grown weary of trying to tackle Afghanistan's seemingly intractable problems of poverty and corruption. The American people have grown weary too.
While most Americans are sympathetic to the plight of the Afghan people, they have become deeply skeptical of President Hamid Karzai's willingness to tackle corruption and political patronage and the coalition's chances of "budging a medieval society" into the modern world, says Ann Marlowe, a visiting fellow at the Hudson Institute, a policy research organization in Washington.
"With millions of veterans home and talking with their families and friends ... some knowledge of just how hard this is has percolated down," said Marlowe, who has traveled to Afghanistan many times.
The Pentagon issues new guidelines to U.S. troops in Afghanistan following a deadly week. NBC's Atia Abawi reports.
It has also been hard to show progress on the battlefield.
World War II had its Normandy, Vietnam its Tet Offensive and Iraq its Battle of Fallujah. Afghanistan is a grinding slough in villages and remote valleys where success is measured in increments.
The Afghan war transformed into a series of small, often vicious and intense fights scattered across a country almost as large as Texas.
What's leading Afghan troops to turn on coalition forces?
In July, 40 U.S. service members died in Afghanistan in the deadliest month for American troops so far this year. At least 31 have been killed this month — seven when a helicopter crashed during a firefight with insurgents in what was one of the deadliest air disasters of the war. Ten others were gunned down in attacks from members of the Afghan security forces — either disgruntled turncoats or Taliban infiltrators.
Many argue that bin Laden's death justifies a quick U.S. exit from Afghanistan. Others say it's important to stay longer to shore up the Afghan security forces and help build the government so that it can stand on its own. An unstable Afghanistan could again offer sanctuary to militants like al-Qaida who want to harm American and its allies, they say.
"Those of us who have been at this for a long time continue to think that it's important, and that we have a chance now of a path forward with a long-term perspective that will produce the results," said James Cunningham, the new U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
US forces in Afghanistan ordered to keep weapons loaded at all times
The U.S.-led coalition's combat mission will wind down in the next few years, leading up to the end of 2014 when most international troops will have left or moved into support roles.
Military analysts say the U.S. envisions a post-2014 force of perhaps 20,000 to hunt terrorists, train the Afghan forces and keep an eye on neighboring Iran and other regional powerhouse nations.
Americans aren't likely to know the number until later this year. But will anyone other than families of service personnel take note?
As NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports, US military officials are investigating whether or not the Taliban was in fact involved in deadly Black Hawk helicopter crash that claimed the lives of seven US soldiers and four Afghan troops.
"I have heard others say that the danger that their spouses or children are serving in is just simply not being cared about," said Fred Wellman, a 22-year Army veteran who did three tours in Iraq. "I think a lot of veterans feel it is just forgotten."
Political satirist Garry Trudeau captured the apathy about the war in a comic strip this year showing a U.S. servicewoman stationed in Afghanistan calling her brother back home.
After he complains that his children have the flu and how he's struggling to keep up with their hectic hockey schedule, he asks her where she's calling from. She tells him she's in Afghanistan.
"Oh, right, right ..." her brother replies. "Wait, we're still there?"
The Associated Press and NBC News staff contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
I would stake my life on this: that there are many more thousands DEAD than what the liars at the Depart of Defense will report!
And yesterday the Houston news reported 38 US Soldiers killed themselves-suicide! That is the result of a nation run by a bunch of USA Giveaway appeasors...who have nothing at the forefront except their own retired-on-the-J-O-B selfish deceptive TREASON WITHIN...you will end up in H e l l living out the lives that you gave away...and our pain as those whom have to bear the PAIN of never having our loved ones to share our lives with...
This nation is DOOMBED, cursed for sending our sons, daughters, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles aunts, mother grandmothers & grandfathers as U S Military each generation into harms way around the world to be systematically sacrificed on foreign soil:
ALL WHILE YOU DARN WELCOME THE OPEN BORDERS The Race=666=LaRaza ills, aka illegals, illegitimatesover 80-90% illegitimacy doesn not a nation make--but break it does and is guaranteed!
DREAM ACT for illegals illegitimates giving away our US D E A D M I L I T A R I E S seats in our USA's TAXPAID Colleges and Universities and from womb to tomb the fruits of our ancestral labors...you are thieves, cowards deceptive TRAITORS WITHIN!
People, get your heads out of the sand!!!!!!!! Look up how many deaths there were while Bush was president. Then....look up how many have died NEEDLESSLY under Obama!!!!!!!! And by the way, this war has not been forgotten - especially by those of us who have lost soldiers.
Tomorrow won't be soon enough to pull the troops out of there. The military-especially the Army and Marine Corps, as well as Special Forces, have already sacrificed too much. The fact that our so-called Afghan partners have squandered American lives and money without making strides on their own after 10 + years show that security in Afghanistan may not be possible. Unfortunately, this war will go down in history just like the Vietnam War. The fact that this is not one of the main issues and debates during the election campaign just goes to show how much our leaders care about the ongoing sacrifice by our military. The side-effects of this war will adversely effect our military for many years to come. God bless all of our troops, your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
People that don't believe in war are not listened to. People who love all things military cannot wait to test or try out their latest weapon toy. All this crap is created for destruction. Don't get me wrong, sometimes you gotta kill in self defense. This was never a real war, it was an abomination that we went all over the middle east creating havoc, killing thousands of innocent people, disrupting their governments, getting leaders killed, it is America's greatest shame and George Bush is to blame. Don't vote Republican! You cannot declare a war on hiding cowards, which is what terrorists are. They will always lie and pretend to be your buddy, on your side and you can never trust them. I know people who could not trust their own parents and yet America sends our young people to be slaughtered everyday. I can't think about it, because I would have to demand it be stopped and who would listen to me? It makes me literally sick to my stomach.
Been reading the comments here and good points made by many, It is and is not a forgotten war - just depends on who, what, where you look/talk to. My son did a year over there (he went in "The Surge") with the 101st - the Obama supporters might not want to ask them what they think of him - they are on re-deployment standby at this time.
I do agree that it is a rather curious thing that the Sheehans and other media hogging anti war types are not out there for this one. Where are the marchers? where are the protesters? It is a curious thing.
Where are the polititions crying out over their podiums that they are the Voice of the people telling the president to bring our troops home???
Why dont we make the ending of this war this year a election year deal breaker with every fu**ing elected official - the results of their inaction are simple - they dont get re-elected.
My son survived 1 tour already (FOB Curry) as a SAW gunner. I rather not see his luck get pushed. End the war.
Sat 8/25/12
Just a Veteran : Give that SCREAMING EAGLE a great big Hug for Me & tell Him
WELCOME HOME OUR AIRBORNE SOLDIER WELCOME HOME !
To be Honest, I sincerely hope that Your Son is never deployed to Afghanistan again. That there is never the need for a SAW Gunner again.
Let those Un-Manned Drones locate & Kill the Taliban from 20,000ft Keep Our Warriors at Home.
SPW in Alaska "Airborne"
This war in Afganistan is a failure just like Vietnam and Iraq. 10 years in Afganistan and no improvement whatsoever. Billions of taxpayer money and soldier's lives wasted....our politicians are complete fools.
After reading quite a lot of your posts - pros and cons - I realized only a handful mentioned how this war, the need to declare war, all started. However, in which country it took place was not of our choosing, it was where our enemy decided to occupy for obvious reasons - Lots of Hiding Places...
Now stop me if I'm wrong, but didnt WE as a country - via our government officials and leaders - give the go ahead to invade Afghanistan after learning that was where OBL and his followers were hiding out?? And just why were they hiding?? Wasnt it because OBL authorized/ordered his muslim extremist brothers and sisters and his jihad inspired army to put into motion his master plan to take down the United States on what will forever be known as 9/11?
Didn't these haters of America, the American people, the U.S. Gvmt, and the American way of life - "...One Nation, under God...," didnt they come onto our soil, knock down our gates, kick in each and every one of our front doors and wipeout 3,000+ innocent people??? People of all races, religions, creeds, ages, economic and social status?? Didnt they call US out?? And OBL reason to do so was because we desecrated their holy land, wasnt it? - - regardless wasnt bringing America to its knees thetrue main focus of the 9/11 attacks?
So what about all of these innocent people who were killed on 9/11, "in the name of Allah," are they no longer important? Wasnt our military doing what its designed to do...Protect and defend our nation and our citizens against all enemies, both foreign and domestic?? Isnt the rein of terror that was placed on every American citizen wherever they were "reason enough" to declare a war on terror itself for our sake, our safety, for our future existance??
Im not saying war is good or right or just...but sometimes it is necessary.
So, in keeping with the spirit and letter of this article, it is my opinion that: It is a "forgotten war" only to those who choose to forget it. I choose to remember it in my own way, because of the scars 9/11 left on me personally, on my memory, my heart, my tears and my fears - as well as for 7 of my immediate family members, 5 of whom served 3 tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq...and a love who came home on the disabled list...and 1 is still out there (Marines, Army and Air Force).
And I fully agree "MISSON COMPLETE" time to pull out and BRING ALL OF OUR TROOPS HOME to protect and defend our shores.
Its not for us to worry about Afghanistans poverty level or ability to fend for itself, nor is it our duty or obligation to bring it into this century or straighten out its politics or government or anything else, they have survived hundreds of years living in the same conditions they are in now. Besides, all of the structures we built to house, protect, feed, to house supplies or to provide medical services to/for our military personnel/troops, civilian workers, etc., obviously we're leaving them all behind. We have done what we can, with what we have, to ensure there is some stability when we leave...what more is there? Come on people reality is what it is, no more no less...why should we be made to feel guilty or selfish because we can only care for our own financially?
All I truly know is:
ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR...
CHOOSE TO REMEMBER THE 3,000+ INNOCENT LIVES WE LOST ON 9/11 BEFORE YOU BERATE YOUR OWN COUNTRY - MY COUNTRY!
(btw: doing so was considered an act of treason, punishable by death)
Great, wonderful the more Americans that die the better, as the article says no one cares, they brought it on themselves and deserve to die.
EXCUSE ME WARREN, I never wish death on anybody, but as a veteran and mother of a soldier, I hope you find yourself in a bad place without the aid of anyone and those eyes looking at you aren't friendly and they beat you to a mother f--king pulp.
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!
"Great, wonderful the more Americans that die the better, as the article says no one cares, they brought it on themselves and deserve to die".
I have read your other comments and you seem like an intelligent person, so a cowardish, misinformed comment like the one above ,seems beneath you.
No one deserves to die unless they are being punished for needlessly killing someone else (a good example would be a radical Islamist suicide bomber). Wars don't count, the only people who deserve to die then are the people who started them!
Yes the corrupt Main Stream Media hopes Americans have forgotten. The media is heavily biased, laden and dripping with foul and obscene hypocrisy and has managed to make journalism a major "Cluster-beep" of a joke. It can only be for one side and not both. It has become the lopsided beast that pushes the propaganda of the liberal left like a shameless schoolyard drug dealer trying to snare innocent children.
"No one cares?" Really? WTH? Many, many Americans DO care.
The FAULT lies squarely and solely on the corrupt and hypocritical Main Stream Media/Press. The liberal media is to blame for the silence and lack of concern. When Bush was in office, if a spider died in Iraq, the media-elite were foaming at the mouth reporting it and every single casualty every hour on the hour and every single minute of the day and night while blaming Bush. Now the hypocritical media turns a "Blind eye" and looks the other way barely reporting anything much less the truth.
Could it be because their "man" is in office and might not get re-elected if more Americans knew the truth about men and women in the military being killed in Afghanistan? Because a Democrat is responsible now and not a Repub? Because of the broken promises including the one to close Gitmo and end the war? And the Media doesn't want to say a peep about the death toll of 2000 military lives in Afghanistan for fear of making him look bad? Yes! What the media is doing is despicable and unconscionable. BHO owns this war going on right now not Bush. How pathetic that after four years BHO and the liberal media are STILL blaming Bush. This blaming has become a monotonous mantra of the media-libs and DemoncRats in office they chant over and over again. Americans are sick of it and have had enough. The main stream media-elite is made up of cowardly and dishonest men and women looking to do whatever they can to shield and protect their "man" in office by not saying anything at all about "his" war in the hopes of getting their King of Smear and Fear re-elected again while collecting their exorbitant salaries that keep them fat, happy and filthy rich. What a mess the media-maggots have made let's hope that it's not too late for a great team of honest, hardworking and patriotic men and women to come in and clean up this mess. If R&R do get elected they truly will be "inheriting" an astronomical mess of epic proportions because of one man's Epic Failures and the media that failed to say or do anything about it. Except give him praise, homage and worship.
as all the evidence has been gathered up, all indications are that the 9/11 attacks of those aircraft all were carried out by saudi arabians, the financing, was by saudi arabians, the planning, by saudi arabians as well, the people were recruited in saudi arabia, and saudi arabians were evacuated from this country even while every other aircraft in this country was at a standstill on the tarmac somewhere in the hours and days following the attacks.
Bush and company controlled the investigations, and edited out all mention of saudi arabia in the final 9/11 report, further investigations were controlled, and specific questions were supplied by Bush and company, those reports were edited as well.
it's not that the war in afghanistan is a forgotten war, it is war against the wrong country, just like Iraq.
So,im thinking you've been in a coma for the past 10yrs,right?
Afghanistan is no longer a serious threat to the US - Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran and N. Korea are the threats to the US now. Iraq was NEVER a threat - that war was waged because of GHW Bush's idiot need for revenge. We never should have been in Iraq. Saudi Arabia has the money to support terrorism and they will funnel it into Pakistan, knowing that Pakistan will harbor terrorists. 15 of the 9/11 terrorist hijackers were Saudi - that is no coincidence. How many were Afghans or Iraqis? It's not that we don't care about the war - it's the fact that we are fighting the wrong war, in the wrong country against the wrong people. While we waste our time in Afghanistan, the terrorists in sleeper cells are building their armies in Pakistan (while being paid for from money by the Saudis) while at the same time, Iran and Pakistan build their cache of nukes.
If all these comments,dont have a change in the way things are going,what is my comment going to change,war is like one of the others,that commented,start at one end,and go through, getting rid of them all,no comebacks,and no jesters..... release the ones that were sent there to do the job,but yet they are arrested for doing what someone else wouldnt,,
We just need to leave.
I, too, want us out of Afghanistan. Let the drones take over, blow the place to kingdom come, along with Iran, and bring our guys and gals back home. I'm done, but this war is not forgotten. Not by me. I care. I care about the men and women who are there, trying to do a job that is not appreciated by the people there. Waste of our troops and our resources. We need to get out, NOW!
Sat 8/25/12 I understood this blog to be about the APATHY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE & not about Presidents ?
Here's my 2 cents :
ONLY Our Military & Their Families, Our Veterans & Their Families are Fighting this War in Afghanistan.
The rest of America is "AT THE MALL" & can't be bother with Afghanistan. They could give a S__— less about Afghanistan.
Don't believe me ? Just say the word Afghanistan then witness how fast your fellow Americans turn & walk away. They don't want to hear it, it's not important to them.
& Yes Our Very Own Warriors are beginning to sense this APATHY also. & Yes that Hurts.
They may attempt to remain All Macho & Tough but the APATHY Hurts. Yes Our Warriors in Afghanistan
ARE BEING FORGOTTEN. & THAT IS SO VERY VERY WRONG
From a Generation of Draftees that were Forgotten also so many years ago
SPW "Airborne" Drafted July 1969
I haven't forgotten the war in Afghanistan, and no one I speak with has forgotten either. The problem is - what are we supposed to do? Who can we vote for who will pull our troops out? Who in Congress will stop funding it? Writing letters of complaint don't have any effect!
As to the difficulties of leaving, I can't understand that either. The way to leave is - LEAVE! Get in the trucks, or on the planes, and get out. We don't know who we are fighting, or why we are fighting, or who will eventually benefit - if anyone other than a handful of corrupt people who are making a lot of money.
American soldiers and their families are not the only ones suffering - we need to pity the Afghan citizens. What must they think of a country (the U. S.) that seems to have lost its way, with partisan political parties, crushing debt, high unemployment, and an increasingly decadent population!
Hanging around from month to month is just a way of avoiding making a decision - it is the same kind of wishful thinking that kept us in Vietnam for so long. From what I have read, our politicians, diplomats and military commanders all knew that the Vietnam War was unwinnable - but they kept it going in the hope that things would somewho come out OK. Now we engaged in the same unrealistic wishful thinking.
The Vietnam war was a political miscalculation on LBJ's part and we were left to suffer the aftermath. Lessons still not learned as we look at Obama's "war of necessity."
The picture caption reads"Paratroopers from Chosen Company of the 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry rest towards the end of a helicopter assault mission to improve their biological database, near the town of Ahmad Khel in Afghanistan's Paktiya Province on July 16." What the heck does this mean???Does anyone read the captions prior to posting them?? Biological Database??
The problems are very simple..Bush, Clinton,Obama,Romney,Bush Sr,Reagan etc were or all liars! liars! Not a decent president since JFK. How can you vote for someone that you don't trust and someone who is NOT working for the best interests of the people? These people who run for public office, could care less what is good for the country but care only what is good for themselves. Welcome to the democracy of the rich, for the rich and by the rich.
JFK signed the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, which was supposed to keep communists out of Southeast Asia. That led us to Vietnam. Ike may have been the last president who did not want a war of his very own.
Well said!
How can you win a war against people you can't trust even when you are trying to make their lives better. They have lived fighting each other for 1000's of years. Life means nothing to them. It's kill or be killed. Women are worthless and are killed just because. They have no real government, never have, never will. They are just a bunch of different tribes fighting against each other. Then we step in and try to Americanize them. The best thing we can do is leave while we can or either just really go to war from one end of the country to the other and clean it out. We aren't fighting a war there, just pussy footing around looking macho. I don't know who started the "you can't kill civilians" thingy but you can't pick and chose the people you fight when anyone of them can be your enemy. In real war civilians and soldiers get killed because there is war. All America has done since 2000 is play at war. In real war you fight. The people in the way either get out, get killed, or fight back. They have lived this way for thousands of years and America isn't going to change it. The whole mess is tragic and ridiculous.
Jo Ann-666954
The anti-war activists and the new media were active and reported about the war when Bush was in office. So it was in our face everyday and the hatred for Bush grew because of it.
Both have become silent now that Obama is in office. That's the difference.
The war is still going on and our soldiers are still getting killed. Obama is in office so it will not be reported. That's why it's considered the forgotten war.
#1.5 - Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:09 AM EDT YOU ARE AN OPINIONATED FOOL. You are commenting on an article that references deaths in Afghanistan! Research the internet instead of leaving your 2cents worth on it.
Not a fair title for this article. I care and I think most people care very deeply. The problem is that we all want out of this. We don't see this as a worthy cause any longer. The longer it goes on, the more resolved we become to not being able to do anything about it. Anytime another soldier dies, it's a reminder to all of us that we need to leave there. We are witnesses and spectators, and we do care, but we want it over.
We were just discussing the war in Afghanistan over the weekend, wondering why we are still there, why we don't hear very much about it when we listen to the nightly news, what are our soldiers sacrificing their lives and emotional well-being for, is President Karzai trustworthy or just raking in the American money for his own benefit - money that should be going to American soldiers and their families, what is the economic future of Afghanistan based on - exactly what do they have, besides the drug trade that I am told Karzai's brother is a top dog controller of, that the rest of the world needs from them? Will their economy ever be legitimate and self-sustaining, and will the Afghan people be better off after we leave, or will civil and religious unrest cause more casualties and one dictatorial rule will be replaced by another? I lived through Vietnam and all the ugliness of that war -- where are the protest marchers and the loud voices to stop the war and bring home our troops? We captured Saddam Hussein, but continued a war that wiped out lives and cost tremendous amounts of money; we killed Osama Bin Laden, but continue with a war that wipes out lives and costs tremendous amount of money. It would be wonderful to believe that all of our efforts will be rewarded - that the Afghan people will enjoy true democracy, religious freedom and prosperity - but just look across the border to Iraq and you have your answer. Our government must understand that they cannot control other countries and choose what they believe is right for them. Bring our troops home and invest in their future.
The Afghan war has been mainly forgotten and the fault lies clearly in the liberal media. When Bush was Prisident, there was a daily annoucement of the number of soldiers killed and woulnded in Irag and Afghanistan. One day after the present POTU, the organizaer took office, the medai decided they would not publuish any stories about the war. They were apparently afraid it would lead to negative press against the POTUS organizer. After all Obama promised to end the war in Iraq and he essentailly did that, and he also said he would pursue the war in Afghanistan and he did that. He also promiosed a quick end tot he war in Afghantistan resulting from his ardent pursuit of the terrorists. That did not happen and no one published anything about that failure!
How dare anyone say Americans don't care. Many "real" Americans that I know pray daily and get teary eyed seeing our soldiers wounded or dying over there. If the American press would put real news instead of those cow Kardashians and that Jersey trash in the headlines and put our soldiers stories and keep us updated on those that are injured and killed that would be worth while journalism. Let's have daily stories about the lives of our soldiers over there instead of the daily antics of these tramps and dumbasses that fill the headlines.